Striking Based Systems

I. Greco-Roman A.Pankration 1.A blend of wrestling with hand and foot striking techniques. 2.Considered the first all-encompassing fighting system in human history. Only illegal moves were biting & eye gouging 3.It is also arguable that competitions were the closest an athletic event has come to outright, no-rules, empty hand combat. B.Boxing 1.First depictions of bare fisted fighting can be seen as early as 7,000 years ago, in a Mesopotamian stone tablet in depicting two men getting ready for a prizefight. 2. Greeks a.Boxing first accepted as an Olympic sport in 688 BC b.First detailed account of boxing mentioned in Homer’s Iliad (Book XXIII ca. 675 BC). 3.Romans a.Two forms came about to entertain the peoplei.Athletic/sport boxing ii.Gladiators wore lead "cestae" over their knuckles and heavy leather straps on their forearms to protect against blows, and lead to violent fights, often to the death b.Emperors were known to have fought, however the interest diminished toward the fall of Rome c.Banned because it was believed that this activity would disfigure the face; and, if our face reflects the face of God, then this sport/activity would disfigure the face of God

II.China A.Chinese martial arts has been attributed to the need for self-defense, hunting techniques and military training in ancient China B.Most influential philosophies are Confucianism and Zen Buddhism, which begins the division between external/“hard” and internal/“soft” styles of martial arts C.The earliest documented record of martial practices as art begins with the Shaolin monks circa 728AD 1.The origin of Shaolin Kung Fu is highly debated. A popular legend is that Bodhidharma, an Indian Buddhist monk, came to the Shaolin Temple in Northern China in the 6th Century A.D. and, finding the monks to have grown shiftless and uninspired, taught them fighting arts inspired by various animals he'd witnessed in his journey and studies 2.From it's center in Northern China, monks at the Shaolin Temple developed the martial traditions of Shaolin kung-fu that would engender countless other styles that would spread across the country through the centuries. D.Shaolin Kung fu is more than an art of focus. It has become part of the historical tapestry of China culture 1.Largest component of Shaolin kung-fu is it's emulation of animals 2.Shaolin Kung-fu practitioners and teachers are usually monks, typically educated and are good observers. These observations of the variety of animals and the application of particular movements to martial action created a wide array of styles a.White Crane -balance and quick movements b.Dragon -exercise of spirit, flexibility, graceful movements c.Leopard -power trough muscular strength d.Tiger -power through weight and structure, use of claws e.Snake -use of inner chi, pin-point vital targets f.Monkey -mischievous and deceptive g.Drunken style -emulates the loose movements of the intoxicated to lower expectations throw opponents off balance h.Long Fist-Northern Style focusing on deep and low stances i.Praying Mantis -quick and precise striking emulating the mantis E.Bagua Zhang "8 Trigram Palm" 1.Reference to Taoist representations of the fundamental principles of reality: Heaven (Sky), Lake (Marsh), Fire, Thunder, Wind, Water, Mountain, and Earth. 2.A system largely based on circular footwork and attacks in order to force one's opponent into constantly reorienting their position and focus and attempting to circle to an opponent's blind-side F.Tai Chi Chuan “Supreme Ultimate Fist” 1.Has millennia of practice, though origins are obscure 2.Taoist influence on "softer" styles 3.Wu-wei or "no action" 4.A linear system intended to generate great amounts of power and force through manipulation of its user's center of gravity 5.Demands total body awareness at all times instead of fast twitch muscle response which relies mostly on habit 6.Technique relies on deep relaxation G.Wing Chun “Supreme Ultimate Fist” 1.A particular style that originated in the Southern Chinese Shaolin Schools 2.Wing Chun is a close quarters combat system using rapid combinations of checking techniques and counter strikes meant to intercept an opponent's attacks before they can build momentum 3.Students often practice using wooden dummies with outstretched "limbs" to work on angles of attack and defense and to get used to forearm-to-forearm contact on a regular basis 4.probably best known as the art studied by Bruce Lee in Hong Kong prior to his move to the U.S. H.Wushu 1.The sport of wushu is both an exhibition and a full-contact sport derived from traditional Chinese martial arts 2.Competitive wushu is composed of two disciplines: taolu (套路; forms) and sandra (散打; sparring) a.Taolu involve martial art patterns and maneuvers comprised of basic movements (stances, kicks, punches, balances, jumps, sweeps and throws) b.Sandra (sometimes called sanshou or Let Tai) is a modern fighting method and sport influenced by traditional Chinese boxing, wrestling and other grappling techniques 3.It was created in the People’s Republic of China after 1949, in an attempt to nationalize the practice of traditional Chinese martial arts a."Sift through the old to bring forth the new" b.Government officials created a sylabus for what aspects of martial arts would be taught under the auspices of the state c.Post-revolutionary sentiments consider kung fu to be associated with aspects antithetical to an advanced modern communist society such as mystical beliefs, hierarchical society, warlords, agricultural servitude, and capitalism d.Calisthenics used to train wushu is meant to raise the standard of the nation's health as an athletic syllabus while employing the appropriately selected elements of cultural heritage e.Very gymnastic -leaps, circular sweeping kicks and arms movements i.Effortless grows from discipline ii.Students showing promise at an early age are taken care of by wushu governing bodies to train with the demonstration team which travels the world 4.Form of governmental propaganda

III.Thailand A.Muay Thai is referred to as the "Art of Eight Limbs" or the "Science Of Eight Limbs" because it makes use of punches, kicks, elbows and knee strikes, thus using eight "points of contact", as opposed to "two points" (fists) in Western boxing and "four points" (hands and feet) used in sport-oriented martial arts B.Striking surfaces are calloused and conditioned to become more dangerous and less sensitive to pain C.It is a national sport of Thailand that has held for competition continuously since Sukhothai period, between 1257 - 1377 AD D.Descended from muay boran, Muay Thai is Thailand's national sport. 1.Muay Boran ("ancient boxing") is an umbrella term for the unarmed martial arts of Thailand prior to the introduction of modern equipment and rules. 2.The art is significantly different from its modern descendent and includes the head as a ninth weaponIV.France -Savate (boxe Francoise) Old Shoe A.A method of fighting existed in old Paris where the combatants kicked one another with their everyday shoes on. The common name for a street shoe at that time was 'savate'(pronounced sa-vat), which simply meant 'old shoe'. The name savate, therefore, became associated with this particular method of street fighting. B.The first person to make an attempt to systematize savate was Michel Casseux, who opened the first official training establishment in 1825. C.At the same time, another foot-fighting system existed in and around the old southern dockyards of France, and on board sailing ships. This style of fighting was known as jeu marseillais (sport Marseille) and was later renamed chausson ("slipper", after the type of shoes the sailors wore).. 1.Developed end of 18th century by sailors who had traveled east 2.The kicks and open-handed slaps were often aimed and delivered much higher than in savate, and the hands were commonly used for support and balance. 3.It is conjectured that this style was developed in this way to allow the fighter to use a hand to hold onto something for balance on a rocking ship's deck, and that the kicks and slaps were used on land to avoid the legal penalties for using a closed fist, which was considered a deadly weapon under the law. D.A critical turning point for the French kicking style was reached in 1830 (although some records suggest a later date), after Charles Lecour, a one time pupil of Michel Casseux, was said to have suffered defeat at the hands of an English bare-knuckle pugilist named Owen Swift 1.The traditional 'good old English method of deciding a quarrel' had always been to punch one another with bare knuckles, and the English despised the French method of using the feet for kicking, considering it to be unmanly, foreign and cowardly. 2.As French fighters had, until that time, really only used their hands for blocking, parrying and slapping, it became immediately obvious that they were at a distinct disadvantage when fighting at close range against skilled fist-fighters. 3.Lecour recognized these limitations and took up boxing to assimilate the French kicking methods and with the English style.

VI.Japan - Karate A.Based in defense of self and others B.Developed in Okinawa C.Originally meant to kill with a single blow D.Linear techniques (reverse punch) E.Emphasis on maximum power, technique, and focus of blow F.This Okinawa form of "empty hand" or "China hand" was a response to ban on weapons during Japanese occupation

VII.Korea A.Ancient culture with long history of conflict with Mongols, occupation by Chinese and Japanese B.Possibly dealing with mounted riders coming through the open plains of Korea, the Koreans on foot developed high reaching kicks to unseat invading riders C.Most of Cruna's influence on Japanese culture carne via Korea Silla Kingdom of 4th century CE escaped Chinese occupation D.Established schools for the Hwarang 1.Young warriors trained in leadership and martial training 2.Included philosophical/ethical code of chivalry and patriotism a.Hwarang-do, "way of the flower of manhood" b.Founded by Buddhist monk, Bopsa Wan Kwang c.May be the pattern after which Bushido (way of the warrior) developed in Japan E.Korean martial arts become influenced by Chinese and Japanese martial arts because of Chinese occupation of 16th century, followed by Japanese occupation of 17th century F.Taekwondo is nationally supported, used to train the military 1.Becomes highly competitive sport, 2.Becomes an Olympic sport in 1988 Summer Games VIII.Israel A.Krav Maga "Contact Combat" is an eclectic hand-to-hand combat system used by the Israeli Defense Force B.Created by Imi Lichtenfeld in the 1930s by combining principles and techniques from wrestling, Judo, Boxing, and street fighting C.Mostly known for its extremely efficient and brutal counter-attacks with focus on certain fight dynamics such as Simultaneous Attack & Defense; Attacks focused on vulnerable soft tissue; Continuous Combat Motion; Decisive Action; and intense mental conditioning for combat readiness.IX.Brazil A.A mix of origins is found in the athletic movements of Capoeira, which African slaves developed in Brazil based on skills they had brought from Africa. B.Dance and fighting combined